It was already early afternoon when they finished playing. The sunlight over the orphanage had become noticeably harsher, but the energy and chaos from the children had all but faded.
"Alright, guess I should head out now," Astrion muttered, brushing the wrinkles on his clothes. He fastened his shortsword on his waist, as he always did when leaving the orphanage.
On his way out, he spotted Arcine and Neisar repairing the broken courtyard post.
"I'm heading out!" He called out to them as he exited the gate.
The orphanage soon faded behind him, and after a thirteen-minute walk he arrived at the sign that read "Gilded Hearth," the Drop shop he worked for as an herb gatherer. It wasn't full-time job; he only took requests when needed, but it was enough to support his extra expenses and bring something back to the kids.
The shop was already a familiar place for him even before becoming its herb gatherer. He used to run small errands for them in exchange for simple rewards and over time he became a regular face there. The shop owner offered him the role of herb gatherer, a stable yet potentially dangerous job. His errands earned their trust in his reliability, while his exploits at the training hall confirmed his strength and ability to handle it.
Ding!
The bell on the shop's door chimed, announcing his entry.
"Astrion! You look energetic today… guess I still won't have to prepare a Drop for you." the shopkeeper greeted him.
The shopkeeper sounded very lively, some might think how her petite body could hold that much energy. Her twin-tailed wheat-blonde hair bounced on her every move, highlighting her presence.
"Yo, Selka! Sorry, but I'm not giving you that opportunity to prepare a Drop for me," Astrion smirked.
Selka puffed her cheeks in an exaggerated pout. "You're no fun," she teased, clearly unbothered.
"So, what's on the list today?" Astrion asked, ending their banter.
"Let's see," Selka responded, checking the shop inventory. Her light-brown eyes scanned the records, and her usual playful demeanor had faded.
"We're low on Scarlet Flows, and Gray Hush," she continued. "We'll need 3 stacks of Silvermint flower, 1 stack of Bluebell Herb stems, and 1 stack of Hardbark leaves."
"Alright, then I'm heading out," Astrion responded, grabbing his pouch bag.
"Sure…also, I heard the herbs have been looking more 'revitalized' lately. I can prepare a more potent Drop if you end up getting yourself injured out there," Selka said with a wide smile as she saw him off.
"Yeah, yeah" Astrion waved without looking back.
At the same time, back at the orphanage, Arcine was finishing some chores and was also preparing to head out. She grabbed her short bow and strapped it on her back, then secured her twin daggers at her waist.
"Heading out already?" Neisar approached her, a kid clinging to his back.
"Yes! I'll try to bring home a good quality boar meat," Arcine energetically replied.
"Alright, take care"
"Bye sister Arcine"
"Bye! I'm off," Arcine responded as she waved her hand.
Neisar waved his hand and turned his attention back at the orphanage. Not long after, Arcine was deep within the forest.
Still nothing? Come on just one is enough. Perched on a tree branch, Arcine adjusted her position. Wonder what we'll make with it? Stew? Grilled? I can' wait.
After waiting for a while, a wild boar finally showed up. Arcine gripped her bow tightly and aimed at the boar; the surroundings faded, only her and the boar remained. Once sure of her aim, she released the bowstring and the arrow flew straight to the boar's exposed neck. Seeing the boar collapse on the spot it was previously standing, Arcine exhales softly.
"Bingo!"
She climbed down from the tree and approached her hunt.
Seriously! My first hunt was way easier than this. Back when we throw a party for Astrion there are so many boars that I can miss some shot and still be fine! The orphanage is tight on budget, so that boar really helped back then. Arcine internally complained as she let the boar bleed in a nearby river.
After the successful hunt, she headed straight for the butcher to process the meat.
"Back again missy?" The butcher lightly asked when she arrived.
Arcine nodded. "The usual please."
The butcher received the boar from her, and processed it skillfully, cleanly separating the different parts of the meat.
"But still, you've become a regular here, you must have a great source," the butcher remarked, his eyes glued to his work.
Source? He must be talking about my hunting area. "Yes, I think it's still great," Arcine answered, glancing to the direction of the forest. Still plenty of boars, I think.
After processing the boar, the butcher took his portion and wrapped the rest for Arcine.
"Here, all done," the butcher said with a small smile as he gave the processed meat to Arcine. "Come back again next time"
"Thank you," Arcine bowed slightly before leaving.
Next are vegetables. I can buy lots of vegetables with the extra money, and the kids liked the hunted boar better anyway. Heh, good job me. Arcine picked up the pace as she headed to her regular vegetable stall.
After buying the necessary ingredients for the orphanage's meal, Arcine was now carrying a basket full of meat and vegetables. As she was heading back, she overheard some hunters sharing their experiences against dungeon monsters.
"Man, that was tough, those monsters are really tough."
"I feel like they were more aggressive than usual."
"I'm so tired, I think I'll take a day off or two."
Sounds like those dungeon monsters really are a bunch of dangerous beasts. I never wanna fight something like that… ever! Good thing those boars are just normal animals. Arcine looked straight ahead, never straying from her path.
Not long after Arcine arrived at the orphanage after her errands, Astrion had just finished his job and was preparing to head back as well.
"I've confirmed the herbs. All are of great quality," Selka stated with a business-like demeanor. "Here is your payment."
"Thanks, Selka!" Astrion accepted the money with a smile. "I'll be going now, see you next time"
"I'll prepare your funeral paper if you don't come back," Selka teased as he was headed for the door.
"I'll come back, promise," Astrion smiled wryly and proceeded outside.
The sun was already setting, dyeing the sky orange when Astrion reached the orphanage. He instantly spotted Neisar talking to a man clad in various piece of armor and a greatsword at his back, near the gate. Based on Neisar's demeanor towards the man, Astrion assumed he was not a total stranger.
As he drew closer, the man was already leaving the orphanage. They briefly exchanged glances and continued their separate ways.
"Someone you know?" Astrion casually asked upon reaching the gate.
"Just some old acquaintance… back in my hunter days," Neisar responded, eyes fixed to the direction the man had gone.
"Hunter?" Astrion sounded a little surprised. "Neisar, you were a hunter?"
"Hahaha, you should've seen me in my heydays! They used to call me Roaring Lionfist!" Neisar laugh as if bragging.
"Yeah, I'm not buying that," Astrion said flatly. "But still, that explains a lot of things."
"Oh? You're just going to believe it?" Neisar asked, amused by Astrion's reaction.
"You, being a former hunter, yes, you won't lie about something like that," Astrion replied. "But the Roaring Lionfist thing? I don't buy it!"
"Ha! Ha! Ha!" Neisar laughed.
After their light banter, Neisar and Astrion proceeded inside the orphanage going about their daily lives together with Arcine and the kids.
The next day Astrion and Arcine were back at the training hall.
"Hey you two! You're late"
"Let's do our best again today!"
"Did you eat breakfast today?"
Upon their arrival, the training hall just got livelier. Light discussions, teasing, and complaints filled the air.
Soon after, the instructor came in. The lively atmosphere was replaced with a calm and light silence.
"Today, we'll refine your speed and body coordination," the instructor's voice echoed across the hall. "Form up."
With that simple instruction, the students fell into place and assumed basic stance.
"Remember, mastering the body is mastering the mind; while mastering the mind is mastering the body," the instructor continued.
"Yes sir!" the student's replied.
"Form One, begin!" the instructor commanded.
"Yes sir!"
Punch. High Kick. Step back. Guard up. Repeat to the other side. The students performed the routine with a synchronized movement. Once done, they bowed and returned to the basic stance.
"Again," the instructor calmly said.
As the instructor commanded, the students performed the routine once again. After performing multiple routines, sweat began to form on the trainees yet their movements remained precise.
"Alright that's enough, let's take a break," the instructor said at last. "We'll have weapon drills later."
"Yes sir!" the students responded then proceeded to their own groups.
At one corner of the training hall, Arcine and Astrion were with few other students.
"Good job again everyone," one student said to the group.
"Yeah, my arms are starting to feel it," Astrion replied, a smile on his face.
"So he says," another student chimed in. "Yet his smile is still as wide as ever."
"You're way too forceful, dumbass. Do you have something against the air?" one teased. "It's natural you'd feel it more."
"You said it, unlike Arcine's clean and sharp movements, yours are borderline aggressive."
"Heh. That's called me being me," Astrion confidently replied. "Right, Arcine?"
"You're way to forceful, dumbass," Arcine flatly commented, echoing the earlier remark. Seriously! How does he have so much energy? We literally ate the same breakfast you know.
Arcine's reply caused the students to burst into laughter.
The laughter and the light atmosphere were still happening, when a sudden tremor put a stop to it.
"Did you all feel that?" one of them asked.
Other students were still processing the situation when another tremor passed. At the same time, the air was gradually feeling heavier.
What's happening? That's not an ordinary quake. While others are starting to panic, Arcine's thoughts shifted rapidly, trying to search for a possible explanation.
As she was thinking, Astrion took a step forward.
"I'll go find the instructor, he must have a better understanding of the situation," Astrion said to the others.
As he was just about to leave, the instructor rushed inside the training hall.
"Everyone, today's weapon drill is cancelled," the instructor announced. "I'm sure you've felt it too, but something strange is happening."
The instructor continued, guiding the students. "There is no need to panic, the exits are all safe. Just go home for today and stay safe, I'll watch over as you leave."
The students nodded and headed to the exit. Once outside, they were greeted with a strange sight.
The air is undeniably heavier, thick enough that a faint fog clung on the ground. The tremors continued, and each one was accompanied by root-like protrusions erupting from the ground. At the center of the town, there stood a massive flower. An eye was embedded at its core, and jagged teeth lined its petals.
Upon seeing the situation, some students stumbled and fell while stood frozen, panic engraved on their faces.
"Just what on Earth is going on?" Astrion muttered as he stared at the flower.
"What… what is that?" Arcine whispered weakly.